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News: Cavalier attitude turned into true puppy love

BEFORE we go any further, can I just point out that, contrary to last weekÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s column dated April 1, I have no intention whatsoever of standing at the impending General Election.

I know I didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t catch all of you, but I caught one or two and can I just thank you for thinking what a suitable representative for Edinburgh South IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d be!

But last weekÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s April Fool hasnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t been the only piece of misinformation relating to me that has confused some of late.

Exactly four weeks ago, Boogie announced on the Forth One Breakfast Show that the Stott household was expecting a new addition. As you can imagine, word quickly got out and people were immediately congratulating me on the news.

It wasnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t until I got on air that I got the chance to fully explain. The addition was not a two-legged nappied variety that pooed everywhere, but a four-legged furry variety that pooed everywhere. Yes, we have got a dog.

Up until now I have resisted much pressure to make this step as I have never really been a "dog person".

Getting a dog was not the first thing that sprung to my mind when we discussed what the family needed most. Personally speaking, I was always in favour of a top-notch surround-sound home cinema system, but in this instance I was very much outnumbered. Three against one to be exact.

My main objection was I knew that once things had settled down, it would inevitably be down to muggins here to walk the little mutt on the cold damp nights and I wasnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t exactly keen to commit to that.

Unfortunately, I was outnumbered and when ClaireÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s sister announced she was buying a pup and his brother was still available, the writing was pretty much on the wall.

LetÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s make no mistake here, we were prepared for this.

We spent a few weeks reading up on different breeds and seeking advice as to what dog would best suit our lifestyle and then before long, the food, chews, toys, bowls, bed, blankets, transporter, collar, tag and lead were all bought.

Then the big day came - on Saturday, March 5, Charlie, the nine-week-old King Charles cavalier spaniel, arrived chez Stott. And he was gorgeous. How else are you going to describe a tiny little bundle of tan and white fluff?

It didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t take him long to settle in and he quickly learned where he was to do his business - anywhere he bloody felt like!

He soon improved in the toilet department and before long he had had all his jags and we were finally able to take him outside.

Bizarrely enough, I soon found myself voluntarily sticking the lead on him and taking him around the block. I must admit to quite enjoying the experience - although perhaps thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s only because the weather has been pretty pleasant of late.

But this is where my first lesson in puppy possession really came in - having a pup attracts an awful lot of attention. And this confuses wee Charlie.

So enthusiastic is he, about being out and about, he thinks everyone walking towards him is coming to see him, so he greets any passer-by like a long-lost friend with a tail that can wag for Scotland.

I have also been made aware that having a tiny little King Charles Cavalier puppy on the end of a little red lead isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t exactly the butchest of dogs for a 6ft 4in bloke to be walking down the street with. But it could have been worse, Claire originally wanted a Yorkie!

So here we all are, one month into the beginning of what will hopefully be a very long and happy relationship, and already we canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t imagine the house without him.

Yes, he chews what he shouldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t and yes he poos where he shouldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t, but we are told that will all stop in time and Charlie will grow up to be a very important member of the family.

When that does happen, and you find yourself in our neighbourhood one damp, dark wintry night, chances are youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll bump into someone braving the elements walking a certain Charlie the dog.

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll give you three guesses to figure out who thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be!

For the FIRST time my husband mentioned getting a 2nd!!! He was looking at Rory lovingly (as Rory was staring back at him in hopes for some cheese that my husband was cutting!) and commented on how beautiful he was and then looked at me and said, "Can we get another?"

I exclaimed, "Yes!!!"

And then of course he said, "Well... not now. When you graduate from vet school."

And I said, "Sure. When we have a house."'

But good progress!!

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
--Roger Caras

as Rory was staring back at him in hopes for some cheese that my husband was cutting!

Ah yes, the cheese look! Leo gets his daily half pill in a piece of cheese so Jaspar gets a little cube too. So I am used to the cheese look.

Actually they make me laugh and laugh, how when they want something, a toy or a treat, they'll keep staring at it then look quickly at you, then stare at it again, hoping somehow it will levitate over to them...

Tonight I had a chicken out on the counter to put in the oven once my little pizza was done, and Jaspar sat downstairs and barked at it every few minutes, until I finally could get it in the oven. Like in case I didn't know there was a big fat raw chicken on the counter, he'd like to draw my attention to it and suggest I put it on the floor...

Oh yes most definitely. When I first found out about Maxx's litter I phoned hubby all excited and said get home quickly you have to take me to see some pups, he moaned a bit about the distance we had to go but grudgingly came home from work on time for once.

Funny thing was even though he thought that the pups and the other dogs were lovely he kept saying to Maxx's 1st human Mummy, of course he'll be Donna's dog....as Maxx snuggled into his neck...

We had to wait quite a few weeks until we were privilleged enough to bring Maxx home but hubby made us visit him twice and about an hour after we got him home he said ring her back and see if she'll let us have one of the others that she's keeping LOL

In the eventuality we've only got Maxx but I know if I turned up with another 4 or 5 cavs tomorrow then hubby wouldn't care a jot. He is as much in love with Maxx as I am and of course the kids dote on him too